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I've grown interested in this time period following some research into the Columbian Exposition of 1893, early immigration of single women from Ireland, and hearing friends' family stories of the era. I really enjoyed this first chapter of Joan Naper's book, which painted some very vivid pictures for me of her characters. I could almost smell the Christmas dinner, feel the warmth of the kitchen, and sense the atmosphere. The excerpt fits very nicely with what I would have imagined in an Irish immigrant home of the time, with so much work left to single woman Kitty and her mother. I could see the interaction between her father and brothers and their roles in the family. Kitty's resentment and fear of her future suggested where this book may be going. The book fits in well with the historical rseearch I've read of the era and I can't wait to read the rest of it!

The most formidable task in historical fiction is convincing the modern reader he's gone back in time. This is the triumph of Beautiful Dreamer. The first chapter is redolent with the scents of a Christmas meal, then the din of a big family, and the author builds toward a conflict that is both distinct to the period and still affecting in the 21st Century. As ever, it is a thrill to travel through time, but especially so when exotic characters from a vanished place still ring true. It's the mark of having captured genuine human experience. If the author connected this powerfully in the first chapter, it stands to reason that she can fill the following chapters with this same invigorating quality.

Excellent depection of an Irish family dynamic as I imagine it would have been during that time in Chicago. I love a story with a fiesty female who has the courage, despite opposition, to stand up for herself. We don't know nearly enough about the women of this time and their struggles. One more great story would be a tribute to this time and the women who struggled through it.

Joan has a wonderful talent for storytelling.

Being with Kitty and her family for Christmas dinner was fun. I was reminded of when I was younger and living at home with my parents and brothers. I was drawn immediately into the story, and,in fact, I was disappointed when the excerpt ended! I look forward to reading the rest of the book. I'm rooting for Kitty to find true love and escape the shenanigans of her siblings!

A fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and L.M. Montgomery, this is the kind of book I would have loved when I was younger. As a Native Chicagoan, I also appreciated the glimpse of my beloved city at the turn of the last century.

Kitty is a likeable protagonist, a strong, and sassy heroine, one who's easy to identify with. The dialogue is strong and realistic. When we are in a scene, the author does a good job of making it real and the voices usually ring true.

Naper has a fine eye for detail, and she combines the concrete and the sensory to set a scene and evoke a mood. However the story is a little heavy on authorial interpretation, which has the effect of distancing the reader and taking us out of the immediacy of the story. The list of descriptions of the brothers, for example, is simply that, a list. As a reader, I would rather learn the bulk of this information through action and dialogue, with descriptions mixed in.

The author needs to wrangle in a few overzealous adverbs and adjectives, allowing the action and dialog to reveal these things. A few descriptive words peppering the prose is ok, but she shouldn't rely too heavily on them: looked stern, worried look, said proudly, affectionate kiss, patting his big red hand contentedly. Trust the readers to be able to figure out the characters a little, the actions speak for themselves.

This is a lovely story with interesting dialogue and nice details. If Naper pulls back her authorial voice a little and allows the characters to shine with the life she's given them, it will be a compelling read indeed!

I love this type of book, a strong heroine, the prototypical reluctant hero, and a setting full of history and mystery. Congratulations C.J.!

CJ has a story to tell, and sets the stage in quick fashion. Likened to a cross between chiseling stone and molding clay, CJ Rapidly develops four main characters, five if you include the cat. The common "scar" factor links the pursuer to the pursued. And the rapidity of action and change of scene channels my attention, presumably, where she wants it, first, the inkling that the hunter and prey have a common horrific experience, and second, why is this relationship deadly? As my tastes run toward Clancy, Grisham, and am a fan of Hillerman, I was impressed. So... what's around the corner?

I was drawn in and hooked in no time.. I definitely look forward to reading more! I imagine this will be a book I won't be able to put down.

Don't read this unless you want to be completely riveted - because I promise you, it'll happen in the first page. A whirlwind blend of action, darkness, and humor, in perfect balance. The bathroom scene is especially chilling. Absolutely excellent and I can't wait for more.

While this is generally not my genre, I took the chance. I was instantly taken by the main character, intrigued by her self-purpose, despite the crippling horror and the amnesia. I wanted to know what had happened, why she was running, what or who she was running from...and of course, with just the excerpt available, I still want to know!

It is easy to read, entertaining, and it makes me want to read the rest. I liked the Irish setting as well, and the way the author settles the reader into that setting without hammering it in with pages of description.

I loved the description of the furry doctor -- definitely a kid's point of view. In fact, the depiction of Theo is very real, very true-to-life. The mother also intrigues me. What triggered her depression? Does she come out of it? And what did Dad see in Theo's chart? I would definitely like to read more!

Reading this excerpt put me right into the head of the 11-year old Theo, so much so that I felt a little like I was time-traveling. Theo's POV brings us all of the fears, concerns and simple pleasures of an eleven year old boy amidst the trials and tribulations of a broken family. The mysteries of Theo's injury and his mother's unpredictable behavior hooked me, and the wonderful writing made it easy to keep reading. I like these characters and want to see them through to the end. Looking forward to reading more.

My favorite thing about Ms. Librie's writing is the way she catches the intimate moments. Theo is half angry with his mother when he looks at her sleeping in her bed, yet he wants to climb in next to her the way he did when he was little, "and lose himself in the waves of her breathing." In the hospital, when she asks him if she upset him, he doesn't answer. She gives his hand a little shake and asks, "Did I?" The simplicity and grace in the breathing and the little shake makes me care about these characters and hope I get to read the full story in the published novel.

An intense story of family dynamics is quickly established by Librie's economical writing. The reader is immediately invested in the story which is nicely grounded by details both physical and emotional. Librie has created such a sympathetic character and realistic situation that my stomach knotted when Theo's did. This could be a powerful young adult novel in the tradition of Bridge to Terabithia.

For anyone who grew up with a depressed mom, this story rings painfully true. Ms. Librie gets into the head of Theo, the 6th grader, who can't figure out what's happened to his mum. She writes Theo's push me-pull me feelings exceptionally well, he wants his mom back and he's darn angry that she left. I look forward to reading what ever it was that the Dad read in Theo's medical chart. Is he NOT Theo's dad? A great set up for a great novel, please give us more!

Atmosphere and a strong sense of place make this novel excerpt about early 20th Century New Orleans a delightful yet very dark treat. You can feel the magic swirling above the city's squalid streets and quarters, and Maistros gets the sound of people's thoughts and voices just right. The opening imagery turns downright unforgettable, setting the stage for what can only be darker events to come. Characters' moral struggles, only hinted at in this beginning section, will clearly take center stage in a tale that uses the sultry air and sound of the Big Easy to great advantage. Coupled with a dark yet evocative title, and lyrical prose, The Sound of Building Coffins is a promising start to the kind of book we expect to "break out" and bring the author to prominence. Based on the start, it would be highly deserved.

The music and the magic...and the gruesome details. What a fantastic book. Reading THE SOUND OF BUILDING COFFINS is like stepping through a portal into a dark yet tasty past. The sights, sounds, and scents of New Orleans are here, the real emotions of real people, and the compelling lure of jazz music.

And like THE BIG PUNCH, Maistros's first novel, this thing will knock the wind out of you.

I'm looking forward to his next one.

This exerpt is driving me crazy. It features profoundly haunting images (perhaps uplifting, perhaps disturbing), unique, believable characters, and a strong sense of place. It's an exerpt from a larger work, and it's stuck in my head like a moving song I can only remember the chorus of.

Amazon, why not provide a link to let me buy the complete novel - at least in in e-book format?

The Sound of Building Coffins by L. Maistros presents a masterfully crafted introduction to the world of Voodoo and mystical realism in New Orleans.

We begin by following Typhus Morningstar, one of a clan of siblings with 'sickly' names. At nine, Typhus works (so far) as a deliverer of unborn babies to their watery rebirth. The scene of transfiguration from dead fetus to live catfish is extremely thought provoking as well as paints touching and magical imagery. There is definitely something special about this boy.

Noonday Morningstar, father of Typhus' family and Baptist minister, hears God's voice every day; sometimes every minute. He has little choice but to follow the call. That's his lot. One call brings him to the home of an ailing one-year-old. While reading scripture to the child, the voice of Jesus calls out for Noonday to scram. What follows in the scene with the child is eerily provocative and telling of the mystical forces at work behind Voodoo.

The author does an excellent job a relaying this story through various perspectives. I was completely enthralled throughout. While there were a small handful of incomplete sentences (the subject was MIA), no other flaws were noted and nothing really comprised the overall flow of the story. Job well done.

Oh why did PW miss this? The opening's grand--a midnight ride in Storyville-era New Orleans. Can it get more moon-dark-midnight than this? A kid named Typhus on an errand with a burlap sack in his bicycle basket...

Of course, I wonder what parent would name their kid Typhus. Noonday Morningstar claimed naming his children for diseases was for God's glory.

Typhus isn't a complex kid. He doesn't appear to hate his name or anything else. He likes things simple and he hopes he never grows past the point of a simple cure for his problems:

"Typhus loved his midnight bicycle rides. The sound of the water, the feel of night air against his skin, and the acrid smell of burning tar; it all conspired into a comforting sense of oneness with his father's God. And that's all his child's heart had ever really pined for. Not much else, anyway."

On those rides, Typhus gives life to the lifeless--and catfishes to the river. His friend, Marcus, has a strange obsession with fishes, too. Sometimes he catches perfectly good ones and throws them back...

Oh, why don't I have the rest of this? The characterization is good. The feel is dark as 87% cacao and just as bittersweet. I don't know why Penguin or PW missed this excerpt, but I'm glad I saw it and had an opportunity to make note. The writing's submission quality and the story's quite different.

Congratulations, Louis Maistros, on an excerpt well done. I wish I had the rest and I will be looking for the book. I hope it hits my store's shelves soon.

I love the idea of a main character who isn't the same blond bombshell with blue eyes. It sounds very original and entreating and I would love to read more.

I would like to thank each person who took the time to review my excerpt. It has been fascinating to suddenly learn what friends and strangers think of a story that I shared with only a few people. While some could argue the book is autobiographical, let me be first to say that Meena is far more ambitious and adventurous!

The newsroom of a local television station has been used before as a setting but the author gives us a nice twist in that the "perky girl reporter" is an Indian-American trying to balance two opposing cultures. I found the character of Meena becoming alive for me as she confronted her family's pressures to marry, to return to the family fold for her parent's wedding anniversary and to deal with her brother's acceptance of an arranged marriage.

The tensions and politics of the newsroom are ably handled. This is a promising beginning. I wish the author had spent more time pushing her story line forward and less time describing Meena's hangover, but perhaps the hangover will be shown to be crucially important in the next chapter. I would really like to see what the author plans for this.

I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT AND SWEET. I AM DEFINITELY LEFT WANTING MORE... THIS CHARACTER SEEMS UNIQUE AS WELL AS A WOMAN WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS. I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF HER INDIAN HERITAGE TYING INTO THE PLOT. I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO READ THIS BOOK IN ITS ENTIRITY.

Meena is a reasonably developed character and her wish to 'get ahead' and become a somebody at the TV station is a familiar premise. The office politics and petty goings on are not for me.Her personal life and her family wishes that she marry and conform to their standards is also a well used theme. Author Sapna Galloway just doesn't have anything new to say. It's all too petty and derivative for my taste.

The author's use of carefully crafted dialogue pulled me into the pre-Civil War era (1860) rapidly. The descriptive action and richly developed characters easily conjured up mental images of that place and time. I felt myself being transported back and I definitely want to know much more about Isaac and Henry's lives. What happens next?!

This novel is set in one of the most exciting periods of American history and has focused squarely on the issue of slavery and the lives of slaves in the American South, which is a subject long neglected and worthy of exploration. The author has done solid research and has created sympathetic characters in Isaac and his family. He's jumped right into the action.

As a Southerner sensitive to the nuances, variations and music of "my native language" I appreciate that the author has made an attempt to represent the spoken language of the time in his dialog. He makes appropriate distinctions in the speech of the slaves and of the Confederate cadets. Unfortunately, both seem a little stilted and off to my ear and I found this a barrier to becoming fully immersed in the story. Any kind of spoken dialect is hard to represent on the printed page. Generally, it is better to represent the dialect with a word or two and to let the dialog flow in a fashion that the modern reader will accept.

Otherwise, the author has a pleasant and readable prose style.

I was immediately intrigued by the title of this story and when I started reading this download I was hooked. Mr. Andrews does a fantastic job of connecting the reader to the characters. His writing style is very descriptive and easy to follow and I was able to imagine the story in my mind...a must for any good book in my opinion! He definitely left me wanting more- not just from this story, but from this author. GREAT JOB.

I thought this was great. Jeff's got all the essential ingredients: a hook that draws you in, characters that you care about from the start, a beautiful writing style and a richly developed setting. He's got a knack for description and a flow that is easy to follow and leaves you wanting more. This book should be published.

I was engaged from the start. I want to know more about the characters. This book should be published!

This delightful story made me laugh out look and took me back to my days of living in the country and trying to find things to fill up my day. It also reminded me of stories I've heard from my mom of growing up on a farm where you milk your own cows and fresh cream isn't a luxury!

The look into a 4year olds thought process was amusing and so spot on! I was sorry that it wasn't a longer story - I wanted to read more!

It's amazing how descriptive and exciting this story is. A very funny look at life on a farm in the last years of World War II. The beginning in the pig pen is brilliant, and I could never write anything that funny. Great excerpt, and I can't wait to get my hands on the full version!

The writing is clear and descriptive and gives you a good picture of the characters right from the start. The well-crafted stories of Janie's life are compelling and fun to read. I would love to read the rest of this book!

Jimson Weed is a heartwarming and engaging story of a young girl struggling to find her place in both her family and in the world. Set against a backdrop of the rural midwest and told from the point of view of young Janie, I immediately found myself transported with the sights, sounds, and mores of times past.

Ms McCarty weaves this wonderful tale with surety, imagination, and deftness. Her writing style draws the reader in and befriends them. I sincerely hope Jimson Weed moves forward in the competition. It deserves it.

"Jimson Weed" is the work of an exceptional writer with a huge recall for hilarious details. The ability to set up a scene and place us there, letting us be a captive part of the surroundings, is what talented writers are made of. How refreshing it is to read this tale. June McCarty is a talented, funny, and enchanting voice.

As I read this wide-ranging, well-written and action-packed excerpt, I wondered what the world would have done for thriller fiction without World War II and its sequel, The Cold War. This is well-worn ground but the author writes with dash and competence on a big canvas. As yet, there is no single character for the reader to follow or identify with, but action fans will find plenty to like.

The author has shown us four strands and given every indication that he will weave them strongly together. In a case like this, the reader has only to settle back and give the author enough rope to tow us along. If it works, it will be as much fun as waterskiing and if it doesn't, well, we hope the author won't hang himself, but just rewrite until it does work.

Land of Fire's first chapter is excellent! I enjoyed the skillful introduction of interesting characters intertwine against the horror and terror of WWII. Being an avid bookworm and history buff ... this was a pleasurable read. I look forward to the remaining chapters!

I've always enjoyed a good read with a military theme. This story has grabbed my attention with its quick start and intriguing plot line. I can't wait to see where the author takes us from here.

Having seen and read scores of stores about World War II, I enjoyed this introduction thoroughly.

The idea of a third front opening in South America could well have changed the outcome of the war in favor of the Axis and I am eager to find out how Tom Gill fleshes this out.

Thus far, the level of detail is spot on - enough for a good sense of place in every scene but still allows the story to move along at a quick pace. Reminds me of Tom Clancy's pacing.

Looking forward to learning how the story plays out.

This short is a page turner! I was unsure when my friend recommended it to me, not being a fan of war genre. But the story is well-rounded, with elements of suspense, personal intrigue and romance. The characters popped off the page with stark realism. The different settings whisked me around the globe. I wish it had been longer. When is the next installment?

Medusa's Daughter had me from the opening flight scene. The dialogue is witty and sharp, the characters multidimensional, the action fast-paced and fun, the setting pure Hawaiian paradise, and the plot looks like a real cliff hanger. I am dying to read the rest!"

Michael Boyd sweeps the reader into the story. Snappy dialogue, believable characters, and an exotic locale provide the backdrop for fast paced action and intrigue. The author obviously has an extensive knowledge of the Hawaiian Islands and flying. I would recommend this book to those seeking an instant island getaway, and want to read the complete book.

Panic attacks seem to be on the rise, and so I love the idea of a theme that many of us either relate to personally or we know someone who suffers from such. I already feel connected to the main character. I am curious to know more, and I am also curious about regression therapy. The characters in the excerpt are believable, the pacing is great. I want to continue reading.

This is the kind of book I want to read. Interesting characters are introduced well, with enough detail to make me want to know more. Holly is a talented woman who has pursued her dream and lives in a place I'd love to be, even though her life isn't perfect. I was already ready to know where this interesting woman and her life would lead, and then the accident and subsequent hinting at possible hidden mental secrets created the twist that left me definitely wanting to read the rest. In just these few words, there is good flow, easy to visualize descriptive narrative, credible characters (even Buck!)and a developing thread that entices. Great job!

Really enjoyed reading this excerpt. Particularly the section with Holly in the T-bird suffering the panic attack. I was once a passenger in a car when the driver began suffering a panic attack while on the interstate. We didn't crash, but Boyd's description here rings so true to me that it brought back those memories.

Also, I'm a bit of a commerical airline buff, and so really enjoyed the solid flight details, especially in the opening pages.

This excerpt does a great job of introducing a number of potentially interesting characters, situations, and issues seamlessly, with humor and the promise of substance. The local feel -- the characters driving around town, talking, seeing local people and restaurants etc. -- is strong and charming, and quickly draws the reader into a world that feels immediately familiar. I'm reminded a bit of Richard Ford's Independence Day -- a different kind of town, but local people going about their daily business in a similar way, while unusual things happen to the protagonists. (One caution: does it feel so familiar because we're looking at a mere stereotype of a small town? Or will it evolve something more interesting?) The writing is lively, flows naturally, and the dialogue reads well. (I'm a bit dubious, however, of the "hick" sound of some voices, like Hank -- maybe too hick? And in too much contrast to the intelligent articulations of Thomas and his wife?)

I like the fact that the mayor and his wife actually debate issues and in the process, educate the reader. My one concern would be that this feature of the novel would start to become didactic and a bit tiresome, especially if the characters' dialogue becomes a convenient platform for positions and explanations, rather than believable conversation.

So, this excerpt has got me interested. You might lose me if the following things happened: the characters turn out to be cliches/sterotypes of eccentric small-town types, rather than unique, fully developed people; the story (i.e., whatever happens with the ark and the BVM) turns silly or frivolous; the speeches on "issues" become too long-winded or didactic. But I'm poised to stick with it and see what happens.

I was immediately drawn in to the opening scene by the author's rich prose. I love that the mayor could look at his wife's face and "almost smell the oily fumes from the red paint she used to make her protest signs."

I'm anxious to see how this charming and affectionate mayor and his slightly eccentric wife manage the events that are hinted at in the first chapter; and how these curious challenges will impact their relationship. Will they stay together? I look forward to the pleasure of reading another of Mary Hutchings Reed's novels.

You've got your ambitious, conservative small-town mayor and his firebrand wife. You've got your religious iconography suddenly materializing on an underpass wall. You've got your basic backwoods wacko and his plan to build (rebuild?) the Ark. Oh, and from the manuscript review, we know that the prized Princeton daughter has got a heck of a surprise in store for her (or will it be his?) parents. It sounds like the setup for a Christopher Moore or Carl Hiassen comic thriller. But unlike these authors, who exaggerate and fabulize to (admittedly) hilarious effect, Mary Hutchings Reed writes with a warmer, more loving voice. There might be weirdness afoot in Stirling, Wisconsin, but I get the feeling that in Hutchings Reed's skillful hand it will never degenerate to cartoonishness or, worse, cruelty. I really look forward to reading the rest of One for the Ark, and getting to know its cast of very human characters.

I'm hooked after reading the short excerpt from this book! In just the short excerpt provided, the author has managed to lay the foundations for the main characters in such a way that we have some intriguing insights into their stories, but we're also left craving more. The narrative and dialogue are written in such a compelling and crisp manner that you do feel you are getting a "slice of life" look into the lives of folks in a small town. Can't wait to finish!

Both the possibly miraculous appearance of an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a farmer's announcement of his planned reproduction of Noah's ark occur in the same small town. And in the first chapter of One for the Ark. It is not solely these events and their political implications for the local mayor and townspeople that grab the reader. The characters, whose strengths and shortcomings the author deftly reveals in that same chapter, are characters a reader wants to spend some time with, especially under the circumstances. I hope that time comes soon.